Care provided by Eddie Hughes, FNP-BC. Updated October 2026.
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection for weight loss, and Peak Performance Wellness & Aesthetics prescribes and manages it at our clinic on Bristol Highway in Johnson City, TN.
Your care starts with labs and a body composition scan, not a prescription. Eddie Hughes, FNP-BC, reads your results with you, decides whether tirzepatide fits your health history, and adjusts your dose as your body responds.
Most patients pay $200 to $500 a month, depending on medication and dose. There are no contracts.
What tirzepatide is and how it works
Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Zepbound, which is FDA approved for chronic weight management, and Mounjaro, which is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes.
It acts on two hormones your body already makes after you eat, GLP-1 and GIP. That is why it is sometimes called a dual agonist. Most GLP-1 medications, like semaglutide, act on one.
In plain terms, it does three things:
- Turns down hunger. Many patients notice the constant thinking about food gets quieter within the first few weeks.
- Keeps you full longer. Food leaves your stomach more slowly, so smaller meals hold you.
- Steadies blood sugar. Fewer swings through the day can mean fewer cravings and energy crashes.
For a side-by-side look at every option, see our GLP-1 weight loss medications page.
What the research shows
In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week trial of adults with obesity, people taking tirzepatide alongside diet and activity changes lost about 15 percent of their starting weight on the lowest dose and about 21 percent on the highest dose, on average.
In SURMOUNT-5, a 72-week head-to-head trial, adults on tirzepatide lost about 20 percent of their starting weight on average, compared with about 14 percent on semaglutide.
Those trials used brand-name medication at full doses. Compounded versions were not studied. Your own results will depend on your dose, how your body responds, what you eat, and how consistent you are.
Zepbound, Mounjaro, and compounded tirzepatide
People searching for tirzepatide near them usually run into three names. Here is how they differ.
| Option | FDA status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Zepbound | FDA approved for chronic weight management | The brand-name option for weight loss. Insurance coverage depends on your plan. |
| Mounjaro | FDA approved for type 2 diabetes | Same active ingredient. Prescribed for weight loss only in specific situations. |
| Compounded tirzepatide | Not FDA approved | Made by a licensed compounding pharmacy for an individual patient. Only appropriate in certain cases. |
Eddie can prescribe FDA-approved brand-name tirzepatide. When an FDA-approved medication cannot meet a patient’s individual medical needs, a provider may decide a compounded medication is appropriate under federal and state requirements.
Compounded medications are not FDA approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are sold. If compounded tirzepatide comes up for you, Eddie explains why, where it comes from, and how it differs from the brand-name version before you decide.
Is tirzepatide right for you?
Zepbound is FDA approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea.
Tirzepatide is not used if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer, if you have MEN 2, or if you are pregnant. Eddie also takes a closer look if you have had pancreatitis or gallbladder problems, or if you are planning a pregnancy.
If tirzepatide is not the right call, he will tell you plainly and help you find what is. For some patients that is semaglutide, hormone support, or a plan without medication.
Could tirzepatide be right for you?
Start with your height and weight. We use them to work out your BMI, which is the first thing the FDA criteria look at.
Do you have any of these?
Pick all that apply. A weight-related condition can change which options fit you.
Have you or anyone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer, or do you have MEN 2?
These are rare, but they matter. Tirzepatide carries a warning for both.
Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant?
GLP-1 medications aren’t used during pregnancy.
Two last things
Neither one rules you out. They tell Eddie what to look at first.
Have you ever had pancreatitis or gallbladder problems?
Are you on a GLP-1 right now, like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or a compounded version?
Your answers stay on this page. Nothing is sent or saved.
How tirzepatide treatment works at Peak Performance
- Consultation. Eddie goes through your weight history, current medications, health conditions, and goals. Plan on 45 to 60 minutes.
- Labs and a baseline scan. Bloodwork that can include thyroid and blood sugar markers, plus a body composition scan that separates fat, muscle, and water.
- Your plan and your price. Medication if it fits, protein and strength targets, and the monthly cost, all before you commit.
- Weekly injections at home. We teach you how at your first visit, so your dose never requires a drive.
- Follow-ups and dose changes. Tirzepatide starts at a low dose and increases gradually. Eddie moves your dose up or holds it based on how you feel, your weight, and your scans.
- Maintenance. When you reach your goal, you and Eddie decide whether to taper, hold a maintenance dose, or come off, and we keep checking in.
What tirzepatide costs in Johnson City
Most patients pay $200 to $500 a month, depending on medication and dose. That includes your evaluation, medication, follow-up visits, nutrition guidance, and body composition scans.
- No contracts
- No cancellation fees
- No package to buy up front
Labs are priced on their own, based on what you need. If your insurance covers Zepbound, your cost may look different. We go over all of it at your consultation.
Tirzepatide or semaglutide?
Both are weekly injections. Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 alone, and tirzepatide acts on GLP-1 and GIP. In the head-to-head trial, tirzepatide produced more weight loss on average.
That does not make it the right choice for everyone. Your health history, how you handle side effects, your coverage, and your budget all matter. Some patients start on one and switch to the other.
Your first months on tirzepatide
Every plan is set with Eddie, so yours may move faster or slower. This is how the first few months usually go.
Day one
Your first visit
Eddie goes through your weight history, current medications, and goals. Most patients start with labs and a body composition scan, so your plan is built on real numbers instead of a guess.
Once your plan is set, we show you how to give your weekly shot at home.
Weeks 1 to 4
The starting dose
You start low on purpose. This dose isn’t meant to drive big weight loss yet. It gives your body time to adjust.
Many people notice the constant thinking about food quiet down in the first few weeks. Mild nausea or constipation is common, usually a day or two after your shot.
What helps: smaller meals, protein first, and more water than you think you need.
Month 2
Your first step up
If the starting dose is going well, Eddie moves you up. Increases happen no sooner than every four weeks, and only when you’re ready.
Side effects can come back for a few days after an increase, then settle. If they don’t, call or message us and we can slow things down.
Month 3
Checking what’s changing
At your follow-ups, a body composition scan shows how much of what you’ve lost is fat and how much is muscle. That matters more than the scale.
Eddie uses it to decide whether to raise your dose, hold it, or adjust your protein and strength targets.
Month 4 and on
Finding your dose
Your dose keeps moving until you land on the one that works for you. For some people that’s well below the top dose.
When you reach your goal, you and Eddie decide whether to taper, hold a maintenance dose, or come off, and we keep checking in.
Dose bars show the general direction, not a set schedule. Some people stay on a lower dose, and some move up more slowly.
Side effects and what helps
Most people notice their appetite drop within the first few weeks. Some also have mild nausea, constipation, diarrhea, or fatigue while the dose settles in. These are most common when your dose goes up.
What helps:
- Eat slower and stop before you feel full.
- Keep meals small and simple. Greasy, heavy meals are the most common trigger for nausea.
- Eat protein first. It protects your muscle when you are eating less.
- Drink more water than you think you need.
- Call or message us early. We can slow your dose increases before a hard week turns into a bad month.
Rare but serious side effects include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Call us right away if you have severe stomach pain that does not go away.
What life looks like a few months in
The first thing most patients describe is quiet. Food stops running the day.
After that, the changes show up in ordinary places. An easier walk at Winged Deer Park. Clothes that fit the way they used to. Health markers you are already tracking with your primary care provider moving the right way.
We scan your body composition at your visits, so you can see fat coming off and muscle staying on, even in a week when the scale barely moves. Women whose weight shifted in their 40s and 50s can also read about menopause weight gain treatment.
Eddie Hughes, FNP-BC
Eddie is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with more than 15 years in healthcare, including emergency medicine, hospital medicine, neurosurgery, regenerative medicine, and outpatient care. He focuses on medical weight loss and hormone optimization and sees every tirzepatide patient at our Johnson City clinic. Meet our team.
“I am so happy with the results of my lip injections, Botox and my weight loss with Semaglutide!”
“Absolutely stellar experience! From their expert administration of Dysport to their knowledgeable guidance on semaglutide and phentermine, every aspect exceeded my expectations. Eddie’s professionalism and attention to detail instilled confidence, making me feel well-cared for throughout. I’m thrilled with the results and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking top-notch care in aesthetics and wellness.”
“Peak Performance and Eddie are wonderful. Very attentive and take all of your concerns into consideration. Knowledgeable, well rounded and will steer you down the right path for your best potential! I always leave feeling empowered and accomplished. Take the time to give back to yourself…achieve those goals with their assistance…and become the person you set out to be.”
Frequently asked questions about tirzepatide
How much does tirzepatide cost in Johnson City?
At Peak Performance, most patients pay $200 to $500 a month, depending on medication and dose. That includes the evaluation, medication, follow-ups, nutrition guidance, and body composition scans. Labs are priced on their own, and there are no contracts or cancellation fees.
Where can I get tirzepatide near me in the Tri-Cities?
Peak Performance prescribes tirzepatide at our clinic at 3980 Bristol Highway in Johnson City, TN, after an evaluation and labs for most patients. Patients come from Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Greeneville, and across the region.
Do you offer compounded tirzepatide?
Eddie can prescribe FDA-approved brand-name tirzepatide. When an FDA-approved medication cannot meet a patient’s individual medical needs, a provider may decide a compounded medication is appropriate under federal and state requirements. Compounded medications are not FDA approved, and Eddie explains the differences before you decide.
Who prescribes tirzepatide at Peak Performance?
Eddie Hughes, FNP-BC, a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners can prescribe weight loss medication in Tennessee. Eddie evaluates you, orders labs, and manages your dose over time.
How fast will I lose weight on tirzepatide?
Most people notice less hunger within the first few weeks. Weight loss usually builds over months, because the dose starts low and increases gradually. In trials, the full effect showed up over about a year and a half.
I am already on tirzepatide from another provider. Can I switch to you?
Yes. Bring what you are taking, your current dose, and how it has been going. Eddie reviews your history and labs and decides whether to continue your dose, adjust it, or change medications.
What happens when I stop tirzepatide?
Most people regain weight if they stop without a plan. That is why we plan maintenance from the start. You and Eddie decide whether to taper, hold a lower dose, or come off, and we keep checking in.
Do I have to come in every week?
No. You give yourself your weekly injection at home. You come in for follow-ups, dose changes, and scans on a schedule Eddie sets with you.
Serving the Tri-Cities from Johnson City
Every patient is seen at our medical weight loss clinic in Johnson City, at 3980 Bristol Highway. Patients drive in from Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Greeneville, Jonesborough, Gray, and Erwin. For every town we serve, see medical weight loss across the Tri-Cities.
Monday to Wednesday 9 AM to 5 PM, Thursday 9 AM to 6 PM, Friday 9 AM to 2:30 PM. Call 423-212-3703 or book online.
This page is for general education and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Weight loss results vary. Tirzepatide is a prescription medication, and all treatment requires evaluation by a licensed provider.
